TOUGH new crime-cracking powers have helped to tackle boy racers, unauthorised car meets, and anti-social driving on Canvey, police say.

In 2023, Essex Police say they focused on antisocial and dangerous driving on and around Roscommon Way, on Canvey, which has been a hotspot for boy racers for years.

Roscommon Way became subject to a Public Space Protection Order in September 2022 following years of issues which was impacting residents and businesses in the area.

The tough powers give police and council officers additional powers to disperse large groups and fine repeat offenders.

As a result of an increased presences, and enforcement action, officers state there has been a 34 per cent reduction in nuisance vehicle calls in Castle Point.

In crimes as a whole in Castle Point, Chief Insp Paul Hogben, district commander for Castle Point, says crime has fallen.

There were 590 fewer crimes in 2023, a drop of nearly 10 percent.

Chief Inspector Paul Hogben, district commander for Castle Point, said: “Crime is falling, and we are solving more offences.

“This is testament to the hard work my officers are doing every day and the work we are doing with our partners.

“We are working with partners, including Castle Point Council and Morrisons, to make it more difficult for people to partake in antisocial and dangerous driving around Ross Common Way.

“We have increased our presence and enforcement in the area. This has led to a 34 per cent reduction in nuisance vehicle calls in Castle Point.

“I also personally met with residents of Linden Way, Canvey, following a spate of shed burglaries in the area. We spoke at length to identify any missed investigative opportunities and how we could put them right, and how my team could support residents to prevent further offending.”

Violent, sexual, and domestic offences all fell, while there have also been fewer burglaries and incidents of criminal damage.

2023 also saw nearly 360 fewer incidents of anti-social behaviour - a drop of 35 percent.

In the last month alone, work by Essex Police led to a man jailed for breaking into more than 20 cars in Rochford, a persistent Canvey Island shoplifter jailed for two years, and two teenagers sentenced over a robbery.